Media tie-in fiction is the secret success story of modern publishing.Novels based on the Star Trek and Star Wars universes routinely top the NewYork Times best seller lists, but remain something of a covert pleasure. Tomany, they seem to occupy an uneasy position between genre fiction and pulp.But within the field there is a striking and vibrant diversity of style,form and content. Clearly, there is room for critical intervention intothis phenomenon.

This special feature addresses novels and novelisations based on movies ortelevision programmes. Possible topics include:- the publishing and marketing systems behind media tie-in fiction.- the novelisation of blockbuster films.- discussions of specific tie-in universes: Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Warsor others.- why some shows are more likely to spawn tie-ins than others.- why original novels are more important to fans than novelisations.- the awkward ontological status of media tie-ins within fan culture.- the contrast between media tie-ins and fan fiction.

Submissions should be 600-1000 words in length, and preferentially submittedthrough the M/C Reviews site. Anonymous submissions are discouraged. Thiswill be an on-going feature, with new articles posted as they arrive,beginning on the Saturday 14th September. For more information on thisspecial feature, check ot M/C Reviews atwww.reviews.media-culture.org.au/features.phpor e-mail me atc.mills_at_mailbox.uq.edu.au